Tag: statistics

Contracept Reprod Med. 2022 Aug 2;7(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s40834-022-00181-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence from high income countries showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on population and reproductive health behaviour. This study provides a sub-Saharan Africa perspective by documenting the social consequences of COVID-19 and its relationship to fertility preference stability and modern contraceptive use in Nigeria.

METHOD: We analysed panel data collected by Performance Monitoring for Action in Nigeria. Baseline and Follow-up surveys were conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak (November 2019-February 2020) and during the lockdown respectively (May-July 2020). Analysis was restricted to married non-pregnant women during follow-up (n = 774). Descriptive statistics and generalized linear models were employed to explore the relationship between selected social consequences of COVID-19 and fertility preferences stability (between baseline and follow-up) as well as modern contraceptives use.

RESULTS: Reported social consequences of the pandemic lockdown include total loss of household income (31.3%), food insecurity (16.5%), and greater economic reliance on partner (43.0%). Sixty-eight women (8.8%) changed their minds about pregnancy and this was associated with age groups, higher wealth quintile (AOR = 0.38, CI: 0.15-0.97) and household food insecurity (AOR = 2.72, CI: 1.23-5.99). Fertility preference was inconsistent among 26.1%. Women aged 30-34 years (AOR = 4.46, CI:1.29-15.39) were more likely of inconsistent fertility preference compared to 15-24 years. The likelihood was also higher among women with three children compared to those with only one child (AOR = 3.88, CI: 1.36-11.08). During follow-up survey, 59.4% reported they would feel unhappy if pregnant. This was more common among women with tertiary education (AOR = 2.99, CI: 1.41-6.33). The odds increased with parity. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 32.8%. Women aged 45-49 years (AOR = 0.24, CI: 0.10-0.56) were less likely to use modern contraceptives than those aged 15-24 years. In contrast, the odds of contraceptive use were significantly higher among those with three (AOR = 1.82, CI: 1.03-3.20), four (AOR = 2.45, CI: 1.36-4.39) and at least five (AOR = 2.89, CI: 1.25-6.74) children. Unhappy disposition towards pregnancy (AOR = 2.48, CI: 1.724-3.58) was also a significant predictor of modern contraceptive use.

CONCLUSION: Some social consequences of COVID-19 affected pregnancy intention and stability of fertility preference but showed no independent association with modern contraceptive use.

PMID:35915478 | DOI:10.1186/s40834-022-00181-0

Arch Public Health. 2022 Aug 1;80(1):178. doi: 10.1186/s13690-022-00944-w.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Drowning is an under-recognised public health threat and a leading cause of injury-related mortality and morbidity. However, in many countries, including Turkey, limited data impair understanding of drowning burden and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study drowning estimates (defined using International Classification of Diseases [ICD] codes W65-74) do not include flood-related deaths (X38) and water transportation related drownings (V90, V92). A lack of accessible and reliable country-level data impacts a country’s ability to develop appropriate drowning prevention interventions and measure efficacy. This retrospective population-based study aimed to explore differences between two datasets in fatal drowning in Turkey between 2013 and 2019.

METHODS: National, all-age data on fatal drownings (restrictive definition: ICD-10 codes W65-74) were sourced from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. In addition, a broader definition of drowning including water transport, flood-related deaths and drowning due to undetermined intent (ICD-10 codes W65-74, V90, V92, X38, Y21, T751) were sourced from TurkStat. Numeric and percentage differences in number of drowning deaths were calculated overall and by sex, age group and death year. Chi square (p < 0.05) and relative risk (95% confidence intervals) using crude drowning rates per 100,000 population were also calculated for TurkStat data.

RESULTS: From 2013 to 2019, TurkStat reported a total of 5004 drowning deaths (coded W65-74) were reported, compared to 5252 (5% difference; n = 248) using the broader definition. A restrictive definition underreported drowning most significantly in females (9.5%; n = 97), 5-9 year-olds (8.9%; n = 31) and in the 2015 calendar year (30.2%; n = 226). Males accounted for 78.8% of drowning in Turkey, with females significantly (p < 0.001) more at risk under 10 years of age (0-4 years X² = 67.9; 5-9 years X² = 23.9) and aged 65+ years (X² = 29.7). GBD data overestimated a restrictive definition of drowning by 3.2% overall (7.6% for females, 52.5% for 0-4 year-olds) and underreported drowning for 65+ year-olds by 17% when compared to TurkStat restrictive definition of drowning.

CONCLUSIONS: Although a restrictive definition of drowning doesn’t greatly impact estimates at a population level in Turkey, there are variations. This highlights the importance of accurate country-level drowning data to guide decision making for prevention.

PMID:35915470 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-022-00944-w

BMC Nutr. 2022 Aug 1;8(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s40795-022-00571-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Consumers are exposed to a wide range of advertisements through different channels daily, which tends to have an influence on their food decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different forms of food advertisements students are exposed to on campus and how they influence their food choices and nutritional status.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the influence of different forms of food advertisements on students’ food choices and nutritional status. A self-reported semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit responses from 367 students. About 51.5% of the students were females and 48.5% males. Body Mass index (BMI) was derived from weight and height measured according to standard procedures. Data was analysed and presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi-square was used to determine association between categorical variables (socio-demographic characteristics, food choices and nutritional status).

RESULTS: The students reported ‘use of internet’ (58.9%) as the main source of food advertisement on campus, followed by television (21.0%). A large number of students (74.9%) were affirmative about food advertisements influencing their food decision making. Those with poor nutritional status (underweight, overweight and obese) were more likely to patronize sugar sweetened beverages (10.1%) as compared to fruits and vegetables (1.4%). There was statistical significance (p = 0.003) for type of food patronized due to advertisement and the source of advertisement. However, there was no statistical significance (p = 0.832) for type of food patronized due to advertisement and BMI of students.

CONCLUSION: Owing to the increased patronage of internet and television as channels of food advertisements by students, policy makers should prioritize the designing and implementation of intervention programmes through these channels that would influence healthy food decision making and promote consumption of nutrient rich foods. As this population has high self-reported advertisements’ influence on food choices, it is vital to investigate further the influence of contextual cues such as environment and advertisement on their eating habits and dietary patterns.

PMID:35915469 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-022-00571-2

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Aug 1;14(1):149. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00543-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A significant challenge that non-elite collegiate triathletes encounter during competition is the decline in running performance immediately after cycling. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if performing a 40-km bout of cycling immediately before running would negatively influence running economy and mechanical efficiency of running during simulated race conditions in collegiate triathletes.

METHODS: Eight competitive club-level collegiate triathletes randomly performed two trials: cycling for 40 km (Cycle-Run) or running for 5 km (Run-Run), immediately followed by a four-minute running economy and mechanical efficiency of running test at race pace on an instrumented treadmill. Blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, mechanical work, energy expenditure, and muscle glycogen were also measured during the four-minute running test.

RESULTS: Mechanical efficiency of running, but not running economy, was significantly lower in Cycle-Run, compared to Run-Run (42.1 ± 2.5% vs. 48.1 ± 2.5%, respectively; p = 0.027). Anaerobic energy expenditure was significantly higher in the Cycle-Run trial, compared to the Run-Run trial (16.3 ± 2.4 vs. 7.6 ± 1.1 kJ; p = 0.004); while net (151.0 ± 12.3 vs. 136.6 ± 9.6 kJ; p = 0.204) and aerobic energy expenditure (134.7 ± 12.3 vs. 129.1 ± 10.5 kJ; p = 0.549) were not statistically different between trials. Analysis of blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, mechanical work, and changes in muscle glycogen revealed no statistically significant differences between trials.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mechanical efficiency of running, but not running economy, is decreased and anaerobic energy expenditure is increased when a 40-km bout of cycling is performed immediately before running in collegiate triathletes.

PMID:35915467 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-022-00543-w

BMC Nurs. 2022 Aug 1;21(1):207. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00997-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Instead of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the modern definition of ventilator-associated events (VAEs) has been introduced to identify infectious and noninfectious respiratory complications. Some studies revealed that compliance to the ventilator bundle is associated with decreased occurrence of VAP, but little is known about its association with the decrease of VAEs occurrence.

METHODS: A prospective cohort research design was used. Data were collected over eight months from May 2019 to February 2020 in five general intensive care units. The researchers assessed the compliance to ventilator care bundle using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement ventilation bundle checklist. Mechanically ventilated patients were prospectively assessed for the occurrence of VAEs using a pre-validated calculator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All are non-invasive tools and no intervention was done by the authors.

RESULTS: A total of 141 mechanically ventilated patients completed the study. The odds ratio of having VAEs in patients who received ventilator bundle was -1.19 (95% CI, -2.01 to -0.38), a statistically significant effect, Wald χ2(1) = 8.18, p = 0.004.

CONCLUSION/ IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Ventilator bundle compliance was associated with a reduced risk for VAEs occurrence. Nurses should comply with the ventilator bundle because it is associated with decreased VAEs occurrence.

PMID:35915444 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-022-00997-w

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 Aug 1:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2022.2093755. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25% eyedrops compared to vehicle for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis.

METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, double-masked clinical trial, 54 participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25% (study group) or the vehicle (control group) bilaterally, twice daily for 42 days. Outcome measures were collarette cure (collarette grade 0, upper eyelid), mite eradication (mite density of 0 mites/lash), and composite cure (grade 0 for collarettes and erythema).

RESULTS: The proportion of participants achieving collarette cure (80.0% vs 15.8%; p < .001), mite eradication (73.3% vs 21.1%, p = .003) and composite cure (73.3% vs 10.5%, p < .001) at Day 42 was statistically significantly higher in the study group than the control group.

CONCLUSION: Twice-daily 42-day treatment with novel lotilaner ophthalmic solution, 0.25% is safe and effective for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis compared to the vehicle control. (Registry number: ACTRN12620000320954, dated 09/03/2020).

PMID:35914297 | DOI:10.1080/09273948.2022.2093755

Plant Dis. 2022 Aug 1. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-03-22-0516-RE. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Phomopsis stem canker reduces yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) up to or exceeding 40%, however, management recommendations have not been developed for U.S. farmers. Between 2009 and 2020, foliar fungicide trials were conducted in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota for a total of 49 location-years. Random effects meta-analyses were performed on the disease severity index (DSI) and yield data collected from the foliar fungicide trials to determine the overall and individual effectiveness of the tested fungicides. Effect sizes, Cohen’s f or Hedges’ g, were calculated as the difference in DSI or yield between the fungicide treatment and non-treated control (NTC) divided by the pooled standard deviation. The pooled Cohen’s f for DSI and yield was 0.40 [95% CI= (0.29, 0.42)], indicating a large effect size and that fungicide treatments had a significant effect on DSI and yield (P<0.0001). Among the fungicide groups, Quinone Outside Inhibitor (QoI) [DSI (k=45; g=-0.47) and yield (k=46; g=0.41)] is moderately effective and premixes of DeMethylation inhibitors (DMI), Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors (SDHI) and QoI (DMI+SDHI+QoI) [DSI (k=3; g=-0.79) and yield (k=3; g=0.94)] is largely effective in comparison to NTC. Upon performing prediction analyses, the probability of not recovering the fungicide application cost (ploss) associated with QoI (pyraclostrobin) was <0.35 for a range of sunflower grain prices suggesting a greater probability of return on investment from a single application of fungicide. Overall, our study suggests that the use of QoI fungicides is likely to be profitable in the presence of Phomopsis stem canker (DSI>5%).

PMID:35914292 | DOI:10.1094/PDIS-03-22-0516-RE

Ann Intern Med. 2022 Aug 2. doi: 10.7326/M22-0252. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

DESCRIPTION: The Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI), a national coalition of women’s health professional organizations and patient advocacy representatives, developed a recommendation for counseling midlife women aged 40 to 60 years with normal or overweight body mass index (BMI; 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m²) to maintain weight or limit weight gain to prevent obesity with the long-term goals of optimizing health, function, and well-being. This recommendation is intended to guide clinical practice and coverage of clinical preventive health services for the Health Resources and Services Administration and other stakeholders. Clinicians providing preventive health care to women in primary care settings are the target audience for this recommendation.

METHODS: The WPSI developed this recommendation after evaluating results of a systematic review of the effectiveness and harms of interventions to prevent weight gain and obesity in women aged 40 to 60 years without obesity. Seven randomized clinical trials including 51 638 participants and using various counseling and behavioral interventions were included. Trials indicated favorable weight changes with interventions that were statistically significantly different from control groups in 4 of 5 trials of counseling, but not in 2 trials of exercise. Few harms were reported.

RECOMMENDATION: The WPSI recommends counseling midlife women aged 40 to 60 years with normal or overweight BMI (18.5 to 29.9 kg/m²) to maintain weight or limit weight gain to prevent obesity. Counseling may include individualized discussion of healthy eating and physical activity.

PMID:35914264 | DOI:10.7326/M22-0252

Ann Intern Med. 2022 Aug 2. doi: 10.7326/M22-0160. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite high prevalence rates of obesity in the United States, no clinical guidelines exist for obesity prevention in midlife women who commonly experience weight gain.

PURPOSE: To evaluate evidence on the effectiveness and harms of behavioral interventions to reduce weight gain and improve health outcomes for women aged 40 to 60 years without obesity.

DATA SOURCES: English-language searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (inception to 26 October 2021); ClinicalTrials.gov (October 2021); and reference lists of studies and reviews.

STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling predominantly midlife women comparing behavioral interventions to prevent weight gain with control groups and reporting health outcomes and potential harms.

DATA EXTRACTION: Dual extraction and quality assessment of individual studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Seven RCTs in 12 publications (n = 51 638) were included. Four RCTs showed statistically significant favorable differences in weight change for counseling interventions versus control groups (mean difference of weight change, -0.87 to -2.5 kg), whereas 1 trial of counseling and 2 trials of exercise showed no differences; 1 of 2 RCTs reported improved quality-of-life measures. Interventions did not increase measures of depression or stress in 1 trial; self-reported falls (37% vs. 29%; P < 0.001) and injuries (19% vs. 14%; P = 0.03) were higher with exercise counseling in 1 trial.

LIMITATION: Trials were generally small, heterogeneous, and lacked data on harms, long-term health outcomes, and specific patient populations.

CONCLUSION: Counseling interventions to prevent weight gain in women during midlife may result in modest differences in weight change without causing important harms. More research is needed to determine optimal content, frequency, length, and number of sessions required and should include additional patient populations.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Health Resources and Services Administration.

PMID:35914258 | DOI:10.7326/M22-0160

Cancer Res. 2022 Aug 1:CAN-22-1329. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-22-1329. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is persistently refractory to therapy, and methods to improve targeting and evaluation of responses to therapy in this disease are needed. Here, we integrate quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data with biologically-based mathematical modeling to accurately predict the response of TNBC to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) on an individual basis. Specifically, 56 TNBC patients enrolled in the ARTEMIS trial (NCT02276443) underwent standard-of-care doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (A/C) and then paclitaxel for NAST, where dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI were acquired before treatment and after two and four cycles of A/C. A biologically-based model was established to characterize tumor cell movement, proliferation, and treatment-induced cell death. Two evaluation frameworks were investigated using: 1) images acquired before and after two cycles of A/C for calibration and predicting tumor status after A/C, and 2) images acquired before, after two cycles, and after four cycles of A/C for calibration and predicting response following NAST. For Framework 1, the concordance correlation coefficients between the predicted and measured patient-specific, post-A/C changes in tumor cellularity and volume were 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. For Framework 2, the biologically-based model achieved an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.89 (sensitivity/specificity = 0.72/0.95) for differentiating pathological complete response (pCR) from non-pCR, which is statistically superior (P < 0.05) to the value of 0.78 (sensitivity/specificity = 0.72/0.79) achieved by tumor volume measured after four cycles of A/C. Overall, this model successfully captured patient-specific, spatiotemporal dynamics of TNBC response to NAST, providing highly accurate predictions of NAST response.

PMID:35914239 | DOI:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-22-1329